VDOT I-95 toll meeting Monday night

The state highway department will hold a meeting in Fredericksburg Monday night to update the public on its proposed plan to put a toll on Interstate 95.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has proposed collecting a toll in Sussex County to pay for improvements to I-95. However, Caroline County is a secondary location that is under consideration for collecting a toll.

Revenue from toll collections would help pay for improvements, such as rehabilitating aging bridges, pavements and other needs.

Next week’s session is one of several meetings that are being held by VDOT as part of an outreach to inform local officials, motorists, residents and others about the commonwealth’s proposal to the federal government to improve I-95, which includes tolling. The other two meetings were held earlier this week in Sussex County and Chesterfield County.

Monday night’s meeting will be held from 6-8 at the VDOT office at 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg.

During the meetings, the public has the opportunity to learn more about the proposal, review potential toll discount plans, ask questions, and provide their comments.

Caroline County Administrator Charles Culley says there are no plans for any Caroline officials to appear at the meeting and represent the county’s interests.

In recent months the Caroline County Board of Supervisors joined a number of other local governments along the I-95 corridor in passing a resolution opposing the imposition of a toll on the interstate.

The I-95 toll would help pay for interstate improvements and repairs, but it would not fully fund the $12.1 billion worth of work that is projected over the next 25 years. The toll, initially estimated to be $4 for cars, would generate about $35 million annually, according to VDOT.

Over the past six months VDOT has held more than 30 meetings with local governments, planning organizations, and business groups to inform them about the proposal.

Virginia is one of three states, along with North Carolina and Missouri, applying for permission to the Federal Highway Administration to charge a fee to use an interstate highway.

For more information on this initiative, visit www.virginiadot.org/projects/i-95_corridor_improvement.asp.